Shaft-connecting device for change-gears.



PATENTED OCT. 20, 1903.

A. M. HARRISON. SHA-FT GONNYEGTING DEVICE FUR CHAN-GE GEARS.'

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 28, 1903.

N0 NOBEL'.

k J m WITNESSES:

A TTORNE Y.

ohms crans en. mumigmo wAsmNsn-.w u c UNITED .STATESY 'Patented October2(4), 19 3.`

PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED M. HARRISON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO,'ASSIGNOR TO THE KING MACHINETOOL COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SHAFT-CONNECTING DEVICE Foe CHANGE-GEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 741,789, dated October20, 1903. f Application filed January 23,1903l Serial No. 140.954. (Nomodel.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that (I, ALFRED M. HARRISON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cin-` cinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio,have invented new and useful Improvements in Shaft-Connecting Devicesfor Change-Gears, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for engaging differential pulleys (inwhich term I include gears) to a driving or driven shaft, its objectbeing to provide an improved construction of mechanism adjustingafriction-clutch device to any one of a series of loose differen` tialpulleys selectively and operatin g the same to engage said gear orpulley to the shaft.V

The invention applies'to the class of de vices in which a sleeveconcentric with and longitudinally adjustable in relation to the shaftto any one of a series of adjacent gears or pulleys is employed toengage an expanding friction device Within the bore of the pulleys; andmy present improvement consists in placing the carrier upon instead ofwithin the shaft and the pulleys on the carrier and employing a singlefriction-ring upon and adjustable with the carrier to each of thepulleys.

It consists also in thel special means of adjusting the carrier andseparating the expanding devicee.

.The construction and operation of my improvement will be betterunderstood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure l is a side elevation of the improvement as applied to a seriesof change-speed Y gears; Fig. 2, an axial section showing constructionand relation of parts. Figs. 3 and 4 are similar partial side elevationsof the carrier, showing the circumferential groove for the seating ofthe expansion-ring and the same with the ring seated therein,.respectively; Fig. 5, a cross-section in the planeindicated by dottedline a: of Fig. l, and Fig. 6 an end elevation at the right-handend ofFig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, A designates a driving or drivenshaft, toor from which differential motion is to be communicated through loosepulleys or gears a, designated in series as a a2 da. The shaft A ridesin a sleeve B, whereby it is supported in pillow blocks or bearings19'192, between which bearings the gears a ride loosely on the sleeve B.The shaft A is tixedly heldagainst longitudinal motion by means notshown; but the sleeve B is longitudinally adjustable in relation to theshaft through the bearings p' p2 by means presently to be described.

The sleeve B is circumferentially grooved at a convenient zone, as b,and carries in said groove a split expansion-ring b', Figs. 3 and 4,exactly iilling said groove iush with the periphery of the sleeve B, thefunction of which is when brought to the zone occupied by any one of thegears a selectively by its expansion againstthe internal wall of thecentral perforation of the` gear to thus temporarily unite the two inrotative connection through and by means ofmthe expanding element. Theexpanding element is a rectangular block b2, fitted to move radially inacorresponding perforation s in the sleeve B, opening through the bottomof the circumferential slot h occupied bythe expansionring b and alsothrough longitudinal slot s of corresponding width in the shaft A,thelatter slot being extended to the full limit .of adjustment of thesleeve B and inward into a corresponding axial perforation p in theshaft A, continued through one end. The

outer end of the block h2. is wedge-shaped, so that when forced outwardbetween the correspondingly-formed ends of the ring o the ring isexpanded as described, and when the outward pressure upon the block isrelieved the retracting force of the ring b forces the sitely inclined.lThebloclfb2 by the construc-` tion and relation of parts as describedserves,-

the double function of a key, locking the sleeve B, shaft A, and mandrelCin constant rotative connection, while permitting free Ioo longitudinaladjustment of the sleeve B and also of the expanding wedge b2 to forceapart the contiguous ends of the split ring Z9', and thus connect anyone of the gears with the sleeve-shaft for rotation.

The mandrel C projects outward beyond the sleeve B and is therefurnished with a rack-and-pinion connection, as follows: The outerportion of the sleeve B is grooved, as at B, into a series ofcircumferential rackteeth fitted to engage the corresponding sp urpinionB2, journaled in extensions of the bearing p2, by whose rotation thesleeve B is moved longitudinally in relation to the shaft A. In theouter groove is carried a yokeplate d, fitted to slide upon a rod d,extended from the bearing p2 and carrying projections (Z2, to which ispivoted a` bifurcated yokelever e, which in turn carries a yoke e',embracing the grooved end of the mandrel C where it projects beyond thesleeve B.

Other parts incidental to the main construction will be referred to inconnection with the following description of the mode of operation,which is as follows: Supposing neither of the gears a to be rotativelyconnected, the sleeve B, carrying the expansionring b and the expandingblockbz, (out of operative engagement with the ring,) is moved by itspinion B2 longitudinally to place the ring b' Within the zone of a givengear, as a?, the position shown in`Fig. 2. This adjustment beingeffected, the mandrel C is moved inward by the lever e and the block b2is forced outward, spreading open the spring b and engaging the gear a3in rotative connection with the shaft A. When the mandrel C is againdrawn outward, the retractile action of the ring b forces the block b2inward and the gear is disconnected, and the parts are ready for a newadjustment.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited Statesl. In a speed-changing device, the combination of a drivingor driven shaft; a concentric sleeve longitudinally adjustable thereon;a plurality of gears or pulleys loose upon the sleeve; a splitexpansion-rin g carried concentrically `upon and by the sleeve; atapered mandrel carried within the shaft; and a wedge-block extendingradially outward from an inclined seat upon the tapered surface of themandrel through radial slots of the shaft and sleeve betweenl theterminals of the expansion-ring, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

2. In a speed-changing device of the characterindicated the combinationwith the shaft and loose pulleys thereon, and bearings for said shaft,of a sleeve adjustable on the shaft, said sleeve extending outwardbeyond the bearings and provided with circumferential grooves andintervening ribs constituting teeth, a split expansion-ring on thesleeve, means including a radially-movable wedgeblock and means foractnatingthe same for expanding said ring, and a spur-pinion engagingthe teeth of the sleeve to move said sleeve longitudinally upon theshaft while in motion substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a device of the lcharacter and for the purpose indicated thecombination of the movable sleeve toothed as shown, the collar seated inthe terminal groove, the guide-rod, said rod holding the sleeve againstrotation, the concentric mandrel movable with the sleeve, and thccontrolling-lever pivoted to the collar and engaging the mandrel for independent adjustment, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ALFRED M. HARRISON.

Witnesses:

WALTER A. KNIGHT, JOSEPH R. GARDNER.

